John Bendel will be our next president and Kelly Fraasch will be vice-president for 2015.
Additionally:
Consideration of a request from Commissioner Linfante.
The Home Rule Charter provides that Commissioners shall not miss three consecutive regular meetings of the Commission without being excused by the Commission.
Due to a health issue, Commissioner Linfante has asked to be excused from the regular commission meetings in January, February and March of 2015.
Recommended Action: Move to approve the request of Commissioner Linfante to be excused from the next three regular commission meetings.
From Manager Steve Feller's weekly report:
41 comments:
The needed week of warmer/dry weather might not be here until Spring.
Nick M.
Time for that scumbag Linfante to resign.
How many game slots have been lost to the installation.
Plus turf or not would any sport have been playing in January on a day like today?
1/4 of a year with no representative for Ward 3.
Sorry if Linfante has health problems, but in service to the people she's suppose to be representing she should hand over her seat.
9:29 PM, we have been without representation every summer while Linfante performs at the Grand Teton Music Festival.
Elaine
Yeah, I forgot. Maybe you, no all of us, should count our blessings that she'll be absent.
Does Kristen collect a stipend while she is out? John Bendel will be missing a couple of meetings, which leaves three commissioners. One of the three remaining commissioners doesn't read his emails. Still sounding good?
Elaine
9:25, as you know, one of the selling points for the turf made by John Bendel was a 60% increase in game slots based upon usage starting in February (16th) and ending in late December (20th). I've been wondering the same as you, who will actually be out there in the freezing cold/snow in February, March and December? Keep in mind too, every time something isn't held when scheduled, that means lost revenue and more taxpayer money to pay for the replacement turf in 8 years. If more citizens don't start holding these commissioners accountable for their spending on projects we don't want or need, they'll just keep voting and spending.
Nick M.
Nick, plus will parents risk having an accident getting to a game or practice on a snowy day in February just because the 'tire crummy' turf is playable?!
There must be a fantasy here in Lebo that parents want to sign their kids up for the same field sports year round. There is a small group that is willing to do so but I do not get the impression that most want to.... Because I get repeat invites via email to sign my kids up for this and that field sport opportunity year round. The winter ones for indoor play have increased this year significantly.... And the spots don't appear to be filling up.
It's a shame that the field shortage story was concocted. It reminds me of the deer danger story. And the Moody's goal post story. And the....sigh. Back to the Steelers.
On top of that mentioned at 10:19, will Public Works focus on keeping the WC/M parking lots clear in February when they should be out and about salting and plowing streets?
10:48, sure the field shortage was concocted.
We still have the same number of fields and the grass fields will not be any better maintained. So we pick up just a few game slots at WCM for a $1.2 million.
Ludicrous and people bought the story, hook, line and sinker.
"The Home Rule Charter provides that Commissioners shall not miss three consecutive regular meetings of the Commission without being excused by the Commission." There are two kinds of commission meetings; regular and adjourned. I don't understand the distinction, other than the regular meetings are the first meetings held in the month, while the adjourned meetings are the end of the month. Kristen is asking to be excused from the three regular meetings but will be missing six meetings in total for those three months.
I dare not say anything negative since I would look like a schmuck. Kristen has put the commissioners in a very difficult position.
Elaine
The question becomes in whose interest is Linfante serving?
There are several very important subjects coming up before the commission and the Ward 3 residents are entitled to a representative.
It is a shame Linfante has health issues and we wish her a speedy and healthy recovery, but residents shouldn't need to lose a voice they're entitled too.
1216:
Nobody bought the story. Four of our elected commissioners chose to ignore overwhelming opposition to turf. They have still not produced any evidence there were more voices in favor. If they had that material, it would have been in their best interests to produce it. That would have killed the protests, the media coverage, the ever-growing movement toward getting rid of them. But they have nothing to offer. This multi-milliom dollar, taxpayer-funded albatross was pushed through by a dozen people. That's it. How pathetic.
Regarding Linfante and her absence, she has both a moral and legal obligation to step down if she cant fulfill her duties, health issues or not. That said, I'm sure the commission will continue ignoring the rule of law and magically conjure up some exception. That's why people need to storm the meetings and demand her resignation. Apathy is the biggest enemy to freedom and liberty. This community continues to believe that someone else will do the heavy lifting. It's not happening. Get off your butts and get in the fight!!
When was the last time Linfante did anything to benefit the residents of Ward 3? Linfante is beholden to the interests of her inner circle, whom she desperately attempts to please. Her false facade is beginning to take on water faster than she can plug the holes. Her world is based on surrounding herself with those who she believes will further her image as a cultured elitist. But now that poseur image has developed some cracks, and if she can't continue to do the bidding of her "friends", they'll abandon her faster than Dave Brumfield can gobble down a Slim Jim. So, until forced out, Buzz Linfante will remain in office to appease her inner circle and hold on to whatever remaining power she might be perceived by them to have. She who has built a glass house on a foundation of mean-spiritedness, condescension, closed-mindedness and flat-out rudeness and is undeserving of pity whenever that house begins to crumble.
Just wondering if Linfante is taking a leave from her position as Executive Director of Pittsburgh Chamber Music as well.
10:01... somebody bought the story.
We're spending over a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayer money for fake grass. We'll be spending on average about $80,000/yr to maintain and replace it.
Plus several sports groups, businesses and individuals that donated to the project.
Kristen Linfante is no longer an employee of Pittsburgh Chamber Music Society. http://www.chambermusicpittsburgh.org/board.php
1213: as I stated, nobody bought the story except the dirty dozen that pushed it through. And where did you get a quarter million of public money? When all is said and done, it'll be closer to a million and a half (im betting it'll be more). That's just to get built. Factor in maintenance and replacement in the next decade and there you have another two million. But hey, people in Lebo keep looking the other way.
12:42 that was a typo of omission.
That shold read over three-quarters of a million dollars.
Though I agree with you and suspect before the turfing is done a full million or more of taxpayer dollars will have been spent.
9:29, if I may be so bold to ask, what representation have you received over the past year that you think you will be missing over the next 3 months? I'm only asking because over here in ward 4 we're not getting anything that I can see. I've made more phone calls and sent more emails to the commission, the manager, the public works department and PennDOT to get things done that if Dave Brumfield took his role seriously he'd be doing that for me as my representative. What is ward 3 getting with Kristen that I'm not with Dave?
Nick M.
http://www.chambermusicpittsburgh.org/contact.php
I believe Linfante is still Executive Director according to the contact page in your link, 12:35.
Nick at 2:07 PM, I know I am suffering from sleepless nights with Kristen's deer obsession and her constant desire to demean my life's worth. She has already said that I have a lonely, pathetic, and miserable life. I wouldn't trade my life for hers.
I predict that the number of unapproved comments on Lebo Citizens will sky rocket within the next three months.
Elaine
She also told me to get a hobby, seek help, and recommended a paint expert from Rolliers for when I start living in my basement during a deer cull.
It would be just like the commissioners to approve a three month leave of absence just in time for Kristen to return and then leave again for Jackson Hole for the summer.
Elaine
11:01 AM - nailed it!
Well Nick, it's not that Ward 3 is getting something 4 isn't, but rather that there are a number of issues coming up and isn't each Ward suppose to have a voice in the affairs of the municipality?
The fact that Ward 4 Brumfield may be a one-trick pony or that Linfante wants to exterminate wildlife is no matter.
Each Ward is suppose to have an inform and active representative.
11:01 AM - I would feel sorry for Linfante and her inner circle (Barbara Logan, Bonnie VanKirk and Carolyn Byham) if they weren't so intent on inflicting suffering and death on others, and exposing all of Mt. Lebanon's families and pets to danger from shooters and hunters for tulips, and their own personal agendas. Still, it's hard to imagine the poverty of their inner lives. Incomprehensible.
Maybe I can get Dave to address that issue on Washington Road down by the Galleria where the water runoff from the hillside causes massive amounts of ice to build up that overflows into the street causing extremely slippery and dangerous driving conditions. I drove past there on Friday and my right wheel just started spinning causing my posi-traction to kick in.
Nick M.
Mt. Lebanon should get rid of the Ward system, and make all Commissioners responsible to represent all residents, and allow all voters to vote for all Commissioners. This would make all Commissioners more responsible to represent the best interests of all Mt. Lebanon residents.
Hi 5:33. If I understand your question correctly I would agree with you. Along those same lines, my question would be: whose voice is Dave listening to when it’s time to make decisions? I may be wrong, so please correct me if I am, but I believe that the voice that Dave Brumfield listened to regarding the turf project belonged to the sports associations and the voice that Dave Brumfield listened to when deciding against sharpshooters belonged to some of the residents. I have this belief because when you watch Dave and listen to his words during the discussion and commission meetings, there’s no congruency on each of those two topics. It’s like he’s two completely different people.
Nick M.
Yes hit that icy spot too, Nick. I thought the municipality spent a lot of money on that area to alleviate that problem?
Can't answer that question, Nick.
With a lot of the commissioners I get the impression there isn't a lot of deep thinking going on.
Nick With Brummie you get intestinal gas. A whole bunch of it. Remember that...
There's never been ANY deep thinking going on with the 4 lame duck Commissioners. It's quite obvious.
Why would place any stock in municipal leaders that bought property in Ward 1 or on Roycroft?
These brilliant visionaries apparently bought in neighborhoods where house values stagnated or went up very little. (see Tom Moertel's excellent reassessment analysis a while back over on Bloglebo)
The smart money bet on Ward 4 where assessments (well most assessments) jumped substantially.
Yep, the commissioners had nothing to do with the property assessments, but they do have the ability too cater to certain neighborhoods should they choose too.
Just out of curiosity, why can't she attend by phone? Unless the issue is that she just doesn't want to attend, rather than she can't attend.....
One reason Linfante could be staying out of the lime light... affliation with a certain party?
What does that mean, 11:08 AM?
Elaine
Isn't this the primary season for picking candidates for a number of important school board and commission seats.
Could Linfante be an albatross around the neck of the D party? It's not like her past positions on the HS renovation, turf and deer hunting haven't been controversial.
Perhaps her party has determined it might be better if she just disappears for awhile without kicking her to the curb? They silence her without embarrassing her.
Possibility...no?
I dont think her party is that bright. Look who theyve pushed into office. Of course, they dont need to be that smart when going up against the local Rs, who are about as effective at local campaig a as the French were in both world wars.
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